Best high school football team in all 50 states entering the 2025 season

Twelve MaxPreps Top 25 teams represent their state led by Mater Dei, Grayson, IMG Academy and Duncanville.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Zack Poff
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Jul 21, 2025, 10:00am
Preseason No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) headlines our look at the best high school football team in each state heading into the 2025 season. The Monarchs begin the year at the top of the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings for the sixth time over the last nine years. The back-to-back Open Division state champs are the only school in the country that has finished ranked in the top five every season since 2017.

No. 4 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and No. 9 Duncanville (Texas) represent high school football's three other power states.

Other notable selections include No. 15 Edna Karr (New Orleans). The Cougars are coming off their first undefeated season since 2018 and return four-star defensive lineman Richard Anderson, four-star safety Aiden Hall, three-star cornerback Hayward Howard Jr. and three-star quarterback John Johnson. 


No. 24 Thompson (Alabaster) represents Alabama. The Warriors have won five of the last six 7A state titles and four-star junior quarterback Trent Seaborn will have them in position once again this season.

No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), No. 5 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), No. 17 Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.), No. 19 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah), No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) and No. 23 Cass Tech (Detroit) round out the rest of the MaxPreps Top 25 teams that represent their state.
Alabama — Thompson (Alabaster)
Mark Freeman has turned the Warriors into the best program in the state as he enters his 11th season as head coach.

Alaska — Dimond (Anchorage)
Last year's Alaska Player of the Year Cayden Pili is back under center after leading Lynx to first state title since 2001.

Arizona — Liberty (Peoria)
Back-to-back state champs look to become first program in Arizona to three-peat in the Open Division.

Arkansas — Bryant
Defending 7A state champs have won six state titles over the last seven years.

California — Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Monarchs begin season ranked as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Defending 5A state champs have won five state titles over the last six years.

Connecticut — New Canaan
Three-time defending Class L state champs return MaxPreps Connecticut Player of the Year Andrew Esposito.

Delaware — Middletown
Derian Cunningham, B.J. Garrett, Amare Glover and Dorian Rutledge are all back for the reigning 3A state champs.

District of Columbia — Gonzaga
The Eagles are coming off their best season since Caleb Williams was there and they have the top-rated prospect in D.C. in Michigan commit Carter Meadows.

Ascenders have 25 players rated as a three-star recruit or higher according to 247Sports.

Defending AAAAAA state champs begin the season ranked at No. 4 in MaxPreps Top 25.

Hawaii — Kahuku
Red Raiders have plenty of talent led by two former Trinity League standouts in Matai Fuiava and Talanoa Ili. 

Idaho — Rigby
All-state selections Jacob Flowers, Ethan Hickman and Amani Morel are all back after leading Trojans to 6A state crown.

Illinois — East St. Louis
Flyers begin the season ranked just outside the MaxPreps Top 25 at No. 31 but will have plenty of opportunities to jump in with games against No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and No. 20 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.). 

Indiana — Brownsburg
The Bulldogs won their first state title in 39 years and return Oscar Frye and MaxPreps All-American wide receiver Branden Sharpe.

Rams enter 2025 season as winners of four straight 5A state titles.

Back-to-back state champs are coming off 13-0 season and bring back last year's Kansas MaxPreps Player of the Year Calin Arndt.

Kentucky — Trinity (Louisville)
Shamrocks won second straight 5A state title last season and 29th in program history. 

Cougars are coming off 14-0 season and look for statement win to start the year against No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) on Sept. 12.

Maine — Portland
Cordell Jones headlines the talent returning for reigning Class A state champs.

Five-stars Zion Elee and Jireh Edwards are among 18 players rated as a three-star recruit or higher.

The Knights bring back key players from last year's Division 2 state championship squad.

Michigan — Cass Tech (Detroit)
Defending Division 1 state champs are loaded this season led by 2024 MaxPreps Michigan Player of the Year C.J. Sadler.

Minnesota — Elk River
The Elks have won two of the last three Class AAAAA state championships. 

Mississippi — Tupelo
Reigning 7A champs won first state title in 32 years and bring back last year's MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year Jaeden Hill.

Missouri — Nixa
Five-star Miami commit Jackson Cantwell is back after leading Eagles to the best season in school history.

The Rams return several key contributors after winning their first state title since 2018.

Nebraska — Millard South (Omaha)
Last year's MaxPreps Nebraska Player of the Year Jett Thomalla is back under center after breaking the Class A state records in completions (250), passing yards (3,664) and touchdown passes (47). 

Las Vegas power has won 15 state titles since 2007.

New Hampshire — Bedford
All-state offensive lineman Connor Flaherty headlines the talent for the Bulldogs as they go for third Division I state title over last four years.

Crusaders have won four consecutive Non-Public A championships heading into 2025.

New Mexico — Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
All-state selections Jacob Maldonado, Moses Sparks, Riley Haussler and Jordan Hatch are all back after leading Storm to 6A state crown last season.

Gaels went undefeated against in-state competition and return the 2024 MaxPreps New York Player of the Year Crew Davis.

North Carolina — Grimsley (Greensboro)
Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon is back under center for the defending 4A state champs.

North Dakota — Kindred
Four-stars Brooks Bakko and Luke Starcevic should have Vikings in contention to win third state title over the last five years.

Last year's MaxPreps Ohio Player of the Year Matt Ponatoski is back under center after throwing for 4,187 yards and 57 touchdowns for Division I runner-up.

Oklahoma — Bixby
Spartans go for eighth consecutive state title and 11th since 2014.

Oregon — West Linn
Defending 6A state champs return plenty of talent led by four-star junior cornerback Josiah Molden.

Philadelphia power has won three straight 6A state titles and look for a statement win to start season at No. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) on Aug. 22. 

Rhode Island — Bishop Hendricken (Warwick)
The Hawks seek their third straight state championship and 13th since 2010. 

South Carolina — Dutch Fork (Irmo)
Tom Knotts has led Silver Foxes to a 176-28-1 record during his 14-year tenure with nine state titles, including three in a row.

South Dakota — Lincoln (Sioux Falls)
All-state quarterback Brody Schafer is back under center after accounting for 2,791 yards of total offense (1,976 passing, 815 rushing) and 38 touchdowns for back-to-back Class 11AAA state champs.

Tennessee — Baylor (Chattanooga)
Gabriel Osenda, David Gabriel Georges and Briggs Cherry are just a few of the notable names returning from last year's Division II-AAA runner-up squad.

Texas — Duncanville
The Panthers are aiming for their third Conference 6A Division 1 state title since 2022. 

Eric Kjar has gone 100-8 during his first eight years as head coach and has led the Chargers to five states titles. 

Defending Division I state champs are coming off a historic season, finishing 11-0 outscoring the opposition 462-62. 

Reigning Class 6 state champs are coming off 15-0 season and bring back stars Travis Johnson and Lonnie Andrews III.

Washington — O'Dea (Seattle)
Fighting Irish are only team ranked from the Evergreen State in our expanded top 100. 

West Virginia — Martinsburg
Back-to-back AAAA state champs have won 27 games in a row heading into 2025 campaign.

Wisconsin — Bay Port (Green Bay)
Matt Stevens and Aiden Dirksen are both back after leading the Pirates to the school's first state championship.

Wyoming — Sheridan
Broncs broke the state record for most consecutive wins last season and head into 2025 winners of 43 in a row.

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